The Implant Journey

Your first Consultation

We begin by taking the opportunity to fully understand your individual situation, your goals, aspirations and medical history.

We then take the time to ensure that every aspect of your dental health is covered before gauging your suitability for dental implants and designing a comprehensive treatment plan.

Dr Johnston will need x-rays of your jaw, paying special attention to the area which will be treated. This will usually involve taking a large X-Ray known as an OPG.

A general review of this X-ray will allow Dr Johnston to have a complete overview of your entire mouth including any additional teeth or areas in the bone that require treatment (whether for implants or otherwise). This type of X-ray can also be used to assess the height of available bone and the relation and position of other anatomic structures — all considered as part of the overall analysis for implants.

In order to give you a full understanding of what is involved we will look at models of your teeth, results from our examinations and then outline the treatment stages and potential costs. There is no pressure to go ahead.

Your Second Consultation

A second appointment follows from the initial consultation, and involves careful planning to ensure the long-term success of your treatment. At this stage Dr Johnston will usually make some form of scanning stent, to be worn during a CT scan of the implant site. This is a device which ensures precise placement of the implant for success and long-term health according to extensively researched principles. The CT scan shows the final tooth position in relation to existing bone and allows Dr. Johnston to analyse the data provided from the CT scanner using sophisticated software which allows him to place the implant virtually on a computer then show you in 3D exactly what needs to be done to achieve success.

This software can also be used, where necessary, to order computer-generated surgical guides which allow him to position implants with precision—to fractions of a millimetre. All of this makes your treatment as safe, effective and precise as possible.

Dr Johnston is further able to use this software to help plan long-term treatments, where he might add implants gradually over time to upgrade certain dental prosthesis where the patient was not able to afford the ultimate result all at once.

A typical time frame between procedures could range from 6 to 18 months, depending on each patient’s individual circumstances and the complexity of the problem. With a view to achieving a 30-year result for you, Dr Johnston takes a no-compromise approach— sometimes waiting a few extra months after implant placement can ensure more ideal conditions. In addition, these time frames can sometimes help to make your treatment more affordable.

Your Final Consultation

After all of the above steps in planning have been performed Dr Johnston should be able to accurately tell you what exactly would be required to give you the desired outcome and exactly how long the process is likely to take and how much it will cost.

Proceeding to surgery would normally be the next step. Again there is no pressure to go ahead and a second opinion for all surgical procedures such as this is always recommended.